A Casper man with a lengthy criminal history has been charged with strangling his girlfriend and domestic battery.

Jesse Kraft, 27, heard the felony count of strangulation and the misdemeanor count of domestic battery during his initial appearance before Natrona County Circuit Court Judge Brian Christensen on Monday.

If convicted, the strangulation count is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment and the domestic battery count is punishable by up to six months of imprisonment.

Kraft did not have an attorney and he will apply for a public defender.

Kraft told Christensen he has three children by three different women.

Assistant District Attorney Trevor Schenk said Kraft is on probation, has a conviction for kidnapping and has violent tendencies.

Schenk recommended, and Christensen agreed, to set his bond at $50,000 cash or surety. Kraft will appear for a preliminary hearing within a few weeks when a judge will determine whether he will be bound over for trial in Natrona County District Court.

The case began Friday morning when Casper Police officers responded to a residence on South Cedar Street to assist the probation and parole office about whether Kraft and his girlfriend may have their probation revoked, according to a police affidavit filed with Circuit Court.

The girlfriend was read her Miranda rights and told an officer that she and Kraft had been in a dating relationship for about a year and living together.

On Jan 31, she and he argued and the dispute turned physical. Kraft pushed her against a wall, put her in a headlock, and forced her on a bed. H was behind her and choked her. She was yelling for him to get off her, pulled his hair and scratched his arms. She stopped struggling because she believed Kraft would apply less pressure to her neck.

"(She) stated that Kraft strangled her three to four different times throughout this altercation," according to the affidavit. She added Kraft had strangled her about a half-dozen times in the past.

An officer read Kraft his rights and he said they argued on Jan. 31, the dispute turned physical, and she tried to pull his hair. He said he put his hand on her neck to push her away, but denied choking her.

Both the woman and Kraft had injuries on their arms and head, according to the affidavit.

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